1st & Goal: 2024 Week 1 Preview
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
August 29, 2024
The captivating West Michigan sunset seen through the camera lens above is characteristic of the first few weeks of Michigan high school football season, when games begin in daylight before “Friday Night Lights” bring a later-night glow to communities all over both peninsulas.
That enchantment returns this weekend with 249 season openers tonight, 58 more Friday and one Saturday for the 603 varsity football teams set to play in our state this season.
More than 225 of those varsity games are scheduled to be broadcast this weekend on MHSAA.tv, including all four being played at Wayne State as part of the Xenith Prep Kickoff Classic and all four of the Vehicle City Gridiron Classic being played at Grand Blanc High School today or Kettering University on Friday. Click the names of the events for specific broadcast landing pages for those showcases.
As you’ll find at the start of every football weekend, below are glances at several matchups across the state that are most intriguing. All games are tonight unless noted, and follow the MHSAA Scores page all weekend for scores as they’re submitted.
Bay & Thumb
Goodrich (11-2) at Frankenmuth (11-2) WATCH
This is a rematch of last season’s 14-8 Goodrich win, clinched on a score with 18 seconds to play. It was Frankenmuth’s only loss until the Division 5 Semifinals, and the Martians went on to make the Semifinals in Division 4. Big things are expected of both again, as both are ranked No. 3 in their respective divisions in preseason polls by the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association.
Keep an eye on these THURSDAY Harbor Beach (9-2) at Cass City (8-3) WATCH, Ogemaw Heights (9-2) at Ubly (14-0) WATCH, Muskegon Mona Shores (7-4) vs. Grand Blanc (6-5) WATCH, Almont (12-2) at Marysville (8-3).
Greater Detroit
Warren De La Salle Collegiate (11-3) vs. Davison (12-1) at Wayne State WATCH
This is another rematch from a year ago and the premier clash at the Xenith Prep Kickoff Classic. Last time, Davison trailed 14-0 at halftime before winning 31-26 – and the Cardinals weren’t stopped until the Division 1 Semifinals. De La Salle bounced back to take its season even farther, finishing at Ford Field for the fourth straight and this time as Division 2 runner-up. The Pilots are the favorites in the MHSFCA Division 2 poll, and Davison is ranked No. 5 in Division 1.
Keep an eye on these THURSDAY Clinton Township Chippewa Valley (9-3) at West Bloomfield (10-3) WATCH. FRIDAY Belleville (13-1) vs. Clarkston (6-6) at Wayne State WATCH, Redford Union (7-3) at Harper Woods (11-3), Dexter (7-4) at Livonia Franklin (6-4) WATCH.
Mid-Michigan
North Muskegon (12-1) at Pewamo-Westphalia (10-2) WATCH
North Muskegon set the tone for its winningest season all-time last fall with a 17-14 win over the Pirates in the opener, and the Norsemen set the record with a 28-27 victory over P-W in a Division 7 Regional Final rematch before ending their run the next week. Those, of course, were the Pirates’ only losses of 2023, and they enter this fall No. 3 in Division 7 while North Muskegon is unranked.
Keep an eye on these THURSDAY Portage Central (8-2) at East Lansing (10-3) WATCH, Hudson (8-3) at Fowler (8-2), Lansing Sexton (8-2) at Lansing Everett (5-5) WATCH, DeWitt (7-3) at Haslett (8-4).
Northern Lower Peninsula
Reed City (9-4) at Kingsley (12-2)
Kingsley started its 2023 season with a 46-12 win over Reed City and ended the fall as Division 6 champion – a week after defeating Reed City again in a Semifinal 37-7. That alone should have the Coyotes revved for a big start this time, and after also closing last year with eight wins over their last nine games. Kingsley is ranked No. 2 and Reed City No. 8 heading into this meeting.
Keep an eye on these THURSDAY Gaylord (11-1) at Traverse City West (4-5) WATCH, Manistee (8-3) at Kalkaska (4-5). FRIDAY Elk Rapids (4-5) at Benzie Central (5-5), Charlevoix (9-2) at Traverse City St. Francis (4-5) WATCH.
Southeast & Border
Gibraltar Carlson (10-2) at Carleton Airport (10-2)
After losing to Airport 31-10 in their season opener a year ago, Carlson went on to win its next 10 games and set a program record for victories to go with league and District titles. Airport’s finish, meanwhile, was its best since 2003 and included a District title as well. The winner tonight could attract some attention quickly; both enter this fall unranked by the MHSFCA.
Keep an eye on these THURSDAY Adrian (6-4) at Ann Arbor Pioneer (6-4) WATCH, Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central (6-5) at Clinton (10-2), Michigan Center (7-3) at Jackson Lumen Christi (13-1), Brighton (5-5) at Saline (9-2) WATCH.
Southwest Corridor
Niles (10-2) at St. Joseph (6-4), Friday WATCH
The Vikings’ 55-0 win over St. Joseph to begin last season set the pace for a record-setting run as well as they reached double-digit wins for the first time – and with their lone losses of 2023 by a combined eight points. Niles enters this season No. 6 in Division 4, but the unranked Bears no doubt would love to spoil things after rebounding from last year’s defeat to extend their playoff streak to nine straight seasons.
Keep an eye on these THURSDAY Battle Creek Harper Creek (6-4) at Battle Creek Lakeview (3-6) WATCH, Saugatuck (8-3) at Buchanan (7-4) WATCH, Union City (6-4) at Centreville (5-5) WATCH, Berrien Springs (6-4) at Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic Prep (5-5).
Upper Peninsula
Gladstone (9-3) at Marquette (5-4)
These longtime past Great Northern Conference foes went their separate ways again a year ago, but met for a nonconference opener won by Gladstone 36-7 – and that gave Gladstone back-to-back wins in the near-annual series for the first time since 2008 and 2009. Although neither is ranked at the start of this season, both always are expected to be near the top in the Upper Peninsula.
Keep an eye on these THURSDAY Ishpeming Westwood (1-8) at Bark River-Harris (5-4) WATCH, Escanaba (2-7) at Kingsford (10-2) WATCH, Iron Mountain (11-1) at Houghton (3-6). FRIDAY Marinette, Wis. (3-6) at Menominee (11-3).
West Michigan
Detroit Cass Tech (7-4) at Rockford (11-1) WATCH
This is another of the most anticipated matchups statewide this week, and this is the first time these teams will meet despite both being Division I championship contenders most of the last two decades. Rockford is ranked No. 2 in Division 1 after suffering its only loss last season against Davison in a Regional Final. Cass Tech is ranked No. 4 after ending last year’s run with a District Final loss to eventual champion Southfield Arts & Technology.
Keep an eye on these THURSDAY Paw Paw (9-2) at Big Rapids (10-2) WATCH, East Grand Rapids (7-3) at Lowell (6-4) WATCH, Muskegon Reeths-Puffer (7-3) at Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central (13-1). FRIDAY Zeeland West (9-4) at Muskegon (12-2).
8-Player
Au Gres-Sims (7-3) at Alcona (8-2) WATCH
Alcona ended a two-game losing streak against the Wolverines last season while in the midst of a perfect run to the North Star League Big Dipper title. On the other sideline, that 42-12 loss was Au Gres-Sims’ first of the fall and started a 1-3 run to close the Wolverines’ season as they finished second in the NSL Little Dipper. They remain in different divisions and could both emerge as league champions over the next two months.
Keep an eye on these THURSDAY Gobles (8-3) at Colon (4-5), Gaylord St. Mary (6-3) at Rudyard (6-4), Climax-Scotts (10-1) at Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian (6-3). FRIDAY Crystal Falls Forest Park (7-3) at Newberry (7-3).
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(PHOTO by Tim Reilly.)
'D' Propels Centreville to 1st Finals Win
By
Paul Costanzo
Special for MHSAA.com
January 22, 2021
DETROIT – It didn’t take long Friday for the Centreville defense to prove its season statistics were no fluke.
The Bulldogs stuffed Ubly on a 4th-and-short at midfield on the first possession of the MHSAA Division 8 Football Final, setting the tone for a dominant performance in their 22-0 victory at Ford Field.
“The defense played hard today,” Centreville senior defensive end and fullback Jared Spencer said. “I think we went all out – our seniors went all out just because it was our last game. Our first time making it to state, so I just think our defense, we were ready for the game.”
The title is the first for the Bulldogs (11-0), who had never won a District title in the sport prior to this season. While it didn’t look like it to those observing, coach Jerry Schultz said the nerves were certainly there pregame.
“If they’re going to say (they weren’t nervous), then they’re lying,” said Schultz, who is in his first year leading the program. “I could see it on their faces that they were nervous, especially this morning. That’s why we got on the field so early … we went and ran routes, I wanted them to just throw the ball around. As we told them, it’s 100 yards. Even I walked out here – I've never been here before, I’m actually a Packer fan – but just walking out here, it’s awesome.”
The 11 wins are a school record, despite the regular season being shortened by three games. The program was in the postseason for the third straight year, but just the seventh in school history.
“All the offseason work in the weight room and all the conditioning – everything that we had done since we were freshmen, it’s the best feeling to have to come in as a senior (and win) with this group of guys,” senior quarterback and safety Sam Todd said. “So, coming out on top as a senior, it doesn’t get better than that.”
Centreville was dominant throughout the year, with only two of the 10 games it played – its Semifinal was won by forfeit over Clarkston Everest Collegiate – being decided by single digits. That effort was led by a defense that had seven shutouts and allowed 29 points on the season.
“Just buying into the defense,” Spencer said when asked to explain the success. “It’s been the same defense since (defensive coordinator Trevor Haas) has been here. We’ve had the same players since freshman year, so I think we just had that bond to keep it tight.”
The Bulldogs held Ubly (9-3) to 142 yards of total offense, but 103 of those came on second half possessions when they had already built a 22-0 lead. Ubly was held to 24 yards in the first half, and didn’t record a first down until there was 3:54 to play in the third quarter.
Jacob Spencer led the Bulldogs defense with 10 tackles, while Ethan Brownridge had seven. Tristan McElroy had an interception in the end zone, which ended Ubly’s best drive of the day.
“One thing that they do is they have that angle front,” Ubly coach Eric Sweeney said. “Four years ago, (former Centreville coach) Tyler Langs coached at (Unionville-Sebewaing) and they’re still running his defense. So, it’s not something we haven’t seen, but we knew it was going to be tough because when you’re trying to run a trap and they’re angling those guys up front, you have to do some different things. They flew to the ball. Their linebackers came downfield. It was nothing we didn’t expect, but I kind of thought we’d block it better, but we didn’t. I thought they played incredible defense.”
When the Centreville defense wasn’t on the field stifling the Bearcats, the offense was giving it plenty of rest. The Bulldogs’ ball-control attack chewed up clock, with nearly 30 minutes of possession to Ubly’s 18. They ran the ball 42 times for 156 yards, and made big plays in the passing game when needed, as Todd was 6-for-7 for 130 yards and a pair of touchdowns, both to junior receiver Tyler Swanwick.
Todd also led the Centreville rushing attack with 70 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries.
“I think our biggest problem like I was saying before, we like to play ball-control offense, and that’s what they did,” Sweeney said. “When they needed a big play, they got it. When we only run 10 plays in the first half, that’s not ball-control offense. Personally, I thought our defense played very well, but our defense never got rest, because we played bad offense. We knew (Todd) was an excellent football player. There were no surprises there.”
Todd’s first score came on a 1-yard run midway through the second quarter. The fourth-down play was nearly blown up in the backfield, but Jared Spencer had a big block to help his quarterback get the edge.
Swanwick made a pair of big plays on the second scoring drive, catching a deflected pass for a 31-yard gain, setting his team up at the 20-yard line with nine seconds to play in the half. On the next play, Todd found his top target with a well-thrown jump ball in the end zone, and the Bulldogs took a 16-0 lead into the half.
The Bulldogs all but put the game away with their first drive of the third quarter, eating up 7:46 on the clock, and finishing the drive off with a 12-yard pass from Todd to Swanwick.
Carson Heleski led the Bearcats in his final game, recording 16 tackles, including 1.5 for loss. He also had a team-high 67 rushing yards.
PHOTOS: (Top) Centreville defenders swarm around Ubly running back Mark Hellig during Friday’s Division 8 Final. (Middle) Centreville’s Tyler Swanwick pulls in one of his two touchdown catches. (Click for more from Hockey Weekly Action Photos.)